Law Professor James A. Gardner Named Chair of the Regional Institute’s Advisory Council

James A. Gardner, Vice Dean for Academic Affairs at UB Law School, has been named chair of the Regional Institute’s Advisory Council by Satish K. Tripathi, the university's provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.

Gardner joined the University at Buffalo Law faculty in 2001. He is the Joseph W. Belluck and Laura L. Aswad Professor of Civil Justice in the University at Buffalo Law School and serves as director of the school's Jaeckle Center for State and Local Democracy. Prior to coming to the University at Buffalo he taught law at Western New England College, William and Mary, and the University of Connecticut.

Gardner received his BA from Yale and his JD from the University of Chicago. Before embarking on his academic career, Gardner practiced law in the Civil Division of the United States Department of Justice, in Washington, D.C. Gardner’s research interests include the methodology of state constitutional interpretation; the theoretical foundations of the constitutional structure of politics; and the institutionalization through law of principles of democratic theory.

As chair, Gardner will counsel and guide the Institute along with other council members Brian Carter, Dean of the UB School of Architecture and Planning; Marsha S. Henderson, UB Vice President for External Affairs; Gregory Michaelidis, Director of Research and Strategic Analysis, Office of the UB President; and John M. Thomas, Dean of the UB School of Management.